today

There are times, fortunate moments, auspicious incidents, that gleefully remind us of where we are and what the heck we're doing there. Today was mine.

The gym foray this Sunday morning could have shot me some happiness juice, care of endorphins, then reminded me the joys and benefits of having a body. Which, so I hear, is the most important instrument you will ever hold in the whole length and breadth of your mortal life.

Or perhaps the satisfying Japanese banquet (plus a moan-inducing butterscotch fudge bar!!!) we festively (and health-consciously) gorged on afterwards filled not only our tummies, but also our spirit with resounding peace and encompassing satisfaction. This freed in my mind the bubble of other forgotten festivities conducted around sushi and mounds of wasabi.

Maybe it could have been because of the post-shopping smile I had as we strolled out Festival mall, bags laden with treats and trinkets. The thump of purchases and the hefty weight in hand brought with them the appreciation for the act of purchasing: finding something you like and being so lucky, so blessed, to have the opportunity to take it home and call it your own.

It could have been the thought of watching a Japanese movie on the silverscreen, realizing all along why I've come to love the Japanese and their strange probably-misunderstood wisdom.

Then again, it might have been the long-delayed bright-red radio/clock/cd-player/mp3-player/sub-woofer/speaker acquisition. You telling me to finally shut the susurrus of sighs and start the ceremony of swiping--of my credit card, that is.

And then, there's the wonderful coolness and prevailing calmness of shambling clouds and captured sunlight that imbued this Sunday afternoon its grayness, lending all these events the opportunity to color this one special day with their very own rambunctious tones and heady contrasts.

All these things, could have, may have, perhaps have, peradventure have, come together to conspire and to build out of random occurrence this quiet joy and tepid mirth.

And then came along a memory of you and the 3 months we've been together. And so I wondered as we drove home after a long, fruitful day.

You asked me, with a sideward glance and potent discernment, what I was wondering about--in 5 or less words, which is impossible--really.

I said I was composing, something sweet to mark this day of days. And if it all came to one thing, one statement to concisely capture the full spectrum of emotions I feel, it was this I said:

If today is because of you, then hereon afterward is another day to look forward to.

You squeezed my hand and reminded me how lucky I was.